Dida Holdings, a leading AI-driven travel tech company, has announced that Daryl Lee will become its Group Chief Executive Officer, effective 5 October 2025. Founder Rikin Wu will transition to the role of Chairman as the company embarks on its next phase of international growth.

Lee, a seasoned executive with extensive experience in travel and hospitality, previously served as global CEO of WebBeds and earlier led GTA across the Middle East and Asia Pacific. He began his career with Singapore Airlines and holds a degree in Economics from the London School of Economics. Joining Dida at a pivotal time for the industry, Lee will guide the company as AI, automation, and digital connectivity reshape global travel.

His appointment aligns with Dida’s ambition to strengthen its position as a premier gateway between China and the world’s travel ecosystem. The company provides hotels, airlines, OTAs, wholesalers, and travel agencies worldwide access to the largest outbound market and advanced AI-driven technologies.

Founded in 2012 in Shenzhen by Rikin Wu, Dida has grown from a startup into China’s leading B2B travel distribution platform and a global enterprise. Its offerings span the entire traveller journey: Dida Hotels connects partners to over a million properties worldwide, Dida Flights provides dynamic access to global air content via API, Dida Go delivers end-to-end ground transport solutions, and Dida Experiences offers curated tours and attractions. Collectively, these business units form an integrated ecosystem that enables partners to deliver travel experiences at scale.

Dida’s strategy is organised around three pillars: Travel, Technology, and New Ventures. The company aims to expand its global distribution network, embed AI in all aspects of hotel and distribution operations, and invest in innovation and strategic acquisitions to unlock new revenue streams.

Rikin Wu, Founder and Chairman of Dida, said: “Since founding Dida in 2012, our vision has been to redefine global travel distribution by blending deep partnerships with cutting-edge technology. Over the past decade, we have built an organisation that is not only the leader in China but also a trusted global player. As we enter this exciting new chapter, I am proud to welcome Daryl as our Group CEO. His proven leadership, expertise and international experience will help us accelerate our mission: to bridge China and the world through smarter solutions and stronger partnerships.”

Daryl Lee added: “I am honored to join Dida at such a transformative time for the company and the industry. What excites me most is Dida’s unique ability to act as a gateway for travel innovation — combining scale, speed, and AI-first technology with a global outlook.”

Working alongside Rikin and Dida’s experienced leadership team, I am committed to building on Dida’s remarkable success to date. Together, we will strengthen our global distribution network, expand the reach of our AI-driven solutions, and help shape the future of travel technology. Our goal is clear: to empower our partners with smarter solutions that help them grow, innovate, and thrive.”